Okay, I know this sounds really pretentious, but, hey, everyone else is releasing their plans to solve our nation’s energy crisis, so why not.

Al Gore, who did nothing for eight years to prevent our energy crisis and whose house uses more electric power than many rural towns, has a plan. T. Boone Pickens, who made millions from oil and who is partially responsible for the current state of affairs, has a plan. Lester Brown, who has been predicting doom for over 30 years - none of which has come true, has a plan.

So, why not my plan? I have no political ambitions, no economic ties to the oil industry, and I spent at least 30 minutes in my favorite armchair with a pad of paper thinking of solutions to our energy situation.

Considering some of the ideas put forth by Gore, Pickens and Brown, I think my ideas seem a lot more practical, achievable, and more economical.

1. Start using our domestic energy sources wisely. Yes, we have to start drilling both offshore and in Alaska. We also have to start importing more oil from our neighbor Canada. Canada has the world’s second largest oil reserves.

The Democratic Congress has currently banned importing oil from the Canadian tar sands region. Of the 16 nations with significant oil reserves, 90 percent are not on good speaking terms with the United States. We had better work with our friends before we grovel before our enemies.

2. Having more oil is only half the equation. We must increase refining capacity. Burdensome regulations and miles of red tape have prevented new refinery construction in the nation for over a decade.
An overzealous EPA and fanatical environmental special interest have had free rein for too long. We need to protect and manage our environment, but we also need some common sense and real science. New refinery construction must be made possible and practical now.

3. Get serious about renewable energy sources. Renewable sources of energy must be part of our energy policy. New technology, new infrastructure and new markets must be adopted to make these new sources part of our energy grid. If we want an energy future, we had better start planning it now.

We can start by leaving the RFS alone. It provides a great market incentive for the development of new energy sources. In the meantime, constructing a series of wind turbines around Washington, D.C. would generate enough electric power to run most of the East Coast. That way we will get at least some benefit from all the hot air being blown around Capitol Hill about energy.

4. Stop giving Detroit a free pass. One of the quickest and most effective things that should be done is improving the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks. For decades, the U.S. government has given automakers - foreign and domestic - a free pass on increasing fuel efficiency standards.

This has got to stop. Under the Truitt plan, all cars sold in the United States must have mileage rating of 50 mpg by 2012. In addition, any car manufactured and bought before that date with a 50 mpg rating will get a $1,000 rebate from the government.

5. Another short-term solution is to simply change our gasoline supply. Currently, most fuel has a 10 percent mix of ethanol. Beginning in 2010, this should increase to 20 percent.

Research has proven cars can run on E20 and actually get better mileage than with regular gas. This doubling of ethanol use would likely stretch our domestic production system. Thus, controlled importation of ethanol should be allowed to meet the demand until our cellulosic ethanol industry gets on its feet.

6. Make energy conservation fashionable. Conservation is seldom mentioned in the energy debate. But, in reality, there are a lot of things American consumers can and should do to conserve the use of energy. The Truitt plan would lower the speed limit to 55 mph and mandate greater enforcement of speed laws.

It has been proven that slower speeds save lives and reduce fuel use. I would also provide tax breaks to companies that reduce the energy requirements of the products they make. I would also do away with plastic grocery bags. They are made with petroleum and are an environmental hazard. Let’s go back to paper bags. They hold more, stand up and are made from a renewable resource.
7. Create an Energy Regulatory Board. This one even causes me problems, since I am a fan of less government not more. But Congress and the White House have proven to be such inept managers of our energy policy and resources that such an entity is needed.

Congress and the administration proved to be such bad managers of the money supply and the economy that we created the Federal Reserve Board. The ERB would be appointed by the President, approved by the Congress, and would regulate the nation’s energy supply much as the Fed regulates the nation’s money supply.
Well, there it is - my plan for solving our energy crisis. I can confidently say it has about as much chance of being adopted as the Gore, Pickens or Brown plans. That is not saying much since those plans have no chance of being adopted.

Unlike those other plans, it relies as much on market forces and incentives as it does on regulations and mandates. But for any plan to succeed, we Americans are going to have to want to change. Right now, there is a lot of complaining and fretting; but, to really solve the nation’s energy crisis, our society will have to change the way to do things and the way we think about energy.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt may write to him in care of this publication.